smsgrl2009

Also, call other post office locations...their appointment dates vary.. dramatically...some may get you in within a day or two..might mean driving a little farther but..worth it...

You can expedite your passport and get it in just a few days...

I am on day 7 post op and am overall doing fantastic...incisions are still sore..but no gas pain..bowels resumed today finally...i just am never hungry or thirsty..i am forcing myself to drink but i am not getting nearly enough..and i am only getting about half of my 70gm of protein...at this point but trying hard to force it all in...Losing about a half pound a day on average..tried cream of wheat today..started out ok but made me feel really nauseous so backing off...sticking to my gatorade and protein shakes..i can't believe how uninterested I am in food anymore..nothing appeals to me..guess that is good..

I think this is for most surgerys that require full anesthesia..Plus you are lying in a bed alot for a few days..even though you need to be up walking..that is only a few rounds of the hospital floor each hour but honestly, with the pain meds you stay pretty sleepy..Good Luck..that preop diet was the toughest! and do not eat anything within 24 hours of the surgery except Clear liquids..so you don't get sick!

I was sleeved May 3 and am doing good. I had my surgery in Mexico so I just got home today. I am starting my protein shakes in the morning. The first 24 hours were rough with nausua and pain. I don't have much pain now but just a bit weak and sore. I am not hungry and need to find a way to remind myself to drink. Still hurts sometimes when i take too big of a mouthful of drink. I lost 12lbs during preop and have lost 4 more pounds since surgery for a total loss of 16lbs in 3.5weeks...How are you guys doing?

OK, I went to Tijana alone..had my surgery on Friday May 3 with Dr. Cabrera and Dr Valenzuela at Hospital MI Doctor. I can give you this advice...Don't be afraid to go alone, but.......find a buddy when you get there. I met a wonderful lady and her friend who had surgery the same day as me and those first 24 hours after surgery, its nice to have someone there to put gas-x strips in your mouth..to help you communicate that you need pain meds or even help you go to the restroom. Going in Mexico wasn't bad and the doctors are fantastic..but the facility and the nursing is NOT what you get in a normal hospital in the states. At least where I was...now it was adequate and I felt perfectly safe...but you don't have a nurse call button..and not all the nurses spoke english. THe daytime nurses seem to have better english but even then, its limited to medical terminology.."help me tie my gown so my ass isn't showing" isn't in their known english...so it is nice having someone there to help you with the little stuff..but let me tell you..once you ask for something and they do understand you, they are very accomodating...they are a little rough when putting medicines in the IV..so you will have to tell them if it hurts..I figured this out by screaming to the top of my lungs and they finally got the clue to slow down...They sent me back to the hotel with bandages..NO TAPE...so be sure to ASK for this...if you plan to shower you will have to change those dressings!! Those first 24 hours are pretty bad..I had the nausua...but didn't have the shoulder pains..the gas pains are bad but not constant..and like everyone says, each hour that passes leads to less pain. Today is day 4 post op and I just got home today (missed a connection and stayed overnight in Dallas)..I don't have any pain but am sore. I havent taken any pain meds since Monday morning but am faithful on the other medications they send you with. I was terrified initially of drinking because the first time they let you have something to drink, it hurts when going down. But this is normal..it doesn't hurt now unless the liquid is too cold or i drink too much at once. But prepare yourself because it will hurt...my throat is still a little sore from the tubing they put down. I am definately feeling weaker but aside from this, I am good. I can sit, walk, stand, sleep on my sides..etc without pain or discomfort. Things that do hurt, coughing, sneezing, hiccups, bending too far, turning body side to side, reaching above my head...I also started my period early today for you ladies...I emailed Dr Valenzuala who informed me that this is normal..the shock of the surgery can cause changes to your menstral cycle, some it stops for a while, some it stimulates suddenly..also your bowels pretty much stop for a while..still waiting on those to start up. All this is normal. Beware of Fluid building up in your chest. The nurses forgot to tell me to do the breathing exercises but the doctors did and brought me a spirometer to do this with. Do this so you don't have to cough because coughing as i mentioned sucks!! If I think of any other details or more 2 cents that may help, I will list it... Height - 5'7 Age 35 Starting Weight - 280.4 Weight on surgery day 268 Weight on day I arrived home 264

ok so i am 3 days post op now...missed my connection flight in dallas..so stuck in a hotel and wont be home till tomorrow..aside from this, i am feeling much better.. it doesnt hurt when i drink now and im not feeling as weak. on the plane i got some of that left shoulder pain i read about..not sure if that was due to altitude or my bad luck..seems gone now..in the airport we had dinner vouchers so i ate some soup but i did ask them to water it down and strain it...was the best thing i could come up with and it tasted good and went down easy enough..although it looked like i barely touched the bowl. my woulnds are healing nicely but the one where the drain was is still pretty sore..all in all..this surgery wasnt sooo bad but it is definately not a walk in the park..end results willl make it all worth it though..now just let me get home

I am here at the hospital 2 days post op. i will give you some insight to my experience..first off, i am in mexico at hospital mi doctor. the facility here is adequate..not super advanced like what i am used to in the states but its enough. the doctors were fantastic and most of the nurses have been great. with all that being said, i am in a bit of pain still, though its not constant pain. i am not even sure why..it may be this drain, gas, or just stomach..not sure but seems common among the other sleevers on the floor. the xray leak test was awful..drinking the barium made me vomit almost...a necessary evil..one thing i was not prepared for...i am drinking juice now but it hurts every single time i sip it..doctor says this is normal and should stop after a week..any experience with that? i didnt have the left should pain but have had gas pains..they last for a few seconds then pass. i have walked and honestly havent had to use the gas x as much as i read on here that others do. im happy to be getting the drain and iv out today. my iv hand is swollen and my belly is swollen still from gas though im tooting and burping it out little by little..other than that, i feel pretty ok...in all honestly i did wake up from surgery wondering what the hell i just did to myself but i am sure the results will make the hard work worth it..good luck guys

I have been drinking caffeine the whole time and my surgery is Friday...From what I saw the important factor was making sure you have lots of water and it must be calorie free..Post op is where I thought the caffeine had to be nixed...I have just been cutting down from 3-4 diet cokes a day to 3-4 per week...I have lost 12lbs in 2weeks on the preop diet..

I am booked through Medical Tourism as well..with Dr. Ismael Cabrera-Garcia as my surgeon..Surgery is Friday May 3..Thus far I am really happy..they have answered all my and my husband's questions..and he has drilled them over every step of the procedure as well as equipment they use etc..since I will be alone..Regene is our agent and she has been fantastic in keeping up with us and even put me with the nutritionist to answer the pre and post op diet questions we had. I will update you guys after my surgery on Friday.

I think so..I am packed and have gotten the medication/vitamins/food requirements ready for post surgery. I am currently on the liquid diet which absolutely sucks by the way..so I am ready to get this done and over so I can at least not feel hungry..which hospital are you going to be at?

Hey, I am in TJ also..May 3 with Dr C Garcia..at Mi Doctor..

May 3 Dr. Ismael Garcia Hospital Mi Doctor

I am May 3..in Mexico

I am there..I fly out May 2 for surgery on May 3 by myself to Mexico..leaving a 9yr old and 1yr old at home with my husband...my family doesn't know because I don't want them to worry..so only a couple of friends and my husband have any idea what major change I am about to undergo. I am thrilled most days..terrified on others..just reminding myself of all the things that I will be happy about when its over...

I am getting sleeved on May 3..I am doing the pre-op diet currently..I have lost 8.5lbs in 9 days...starting liquid only on Friday...I am ready..

My surgery is May 3 ..I requested the time off and am using FMLA..my company doesn't allow unpaid leave unless its FMLA..and I don't want to use all my vacation so I can still have some time at Christmas...I am planning to take a week off as I have a desk job..but its nice knowing I am covered if I need longer..most of it is without pay but I am ok with that. I have lost 6lbs already on the preop diet since Sunday (5 Days ago)..I am ready..going alone and kind of glad now..I have 2 kids, 9yrs and 1yrs and a husband, full time job..etc..so I don't get much time for myself..plan to use this time to reflect on the things that got me to this point of having surgery so I can change them. Going through medical tourism company..Garcia and Venezuala..at Mi Hospital..overall costs - surgery $4500 / airfare - $381..

mine is taking place via medicaltourismco..paid 500 down and transferring 4000 more prior to surgery. flight was 381.00 so a total of 4881...i have spent 200 getting protein powder, vitamins, sugar free stuff...etc..so all in all about 5K..

I booked my airfare via expedia.com..I was give specific times I needed to arrive and depart the San Diego airport so I couldn't get the cheapest ticket but still only $381 including all taxes..and my surgery is $4500..still less than $5000 over all.

My surgery is May 3 in Tijuana - Mi Hospital with Dr. Cabrera and Valenzula. I am going through Medical Tourism Company. Thus far they have been very good at answering questions from me and my very skeptical husband. My flight is leaving from NC - Charlotte on May 2 and I am coming home on May 6 according to the patient coordinator. I too sat through some seminars through CMC and found out all the hoops you must go through. Even though my insurance covers it, I am still self paying in mexico because its cheaper and less hoops. Also I was pleased to find out that alot of the surgeons in Mexico are more experienced due to Mexico offering the surgery for a longer time. My hubby is a little freaked out that I am going alone but I have been assured I will be safely escorted from the airport to the hospital / hotel and back. And once I get there I should be with a group of people going through the same thing as me so I won't be alone..What I would like to know is what I HAVE to pack with me..I am only bringing a carry on so I would like an idea of essentials other than toothpaste..

Now that is a battle I can understand..my bmi is 43 right now and my surgery is May 3. I am in the preop- mostly liquid diet and the folks around me are asking why i need the surgery if I can lose the weight doing the preop diet..they just don't understand what its like to feel hungry when you know you shouldn't..i lost nearly 100llbs a few summers ago using various diets, HCG shots, adipex..etc..exercised regularly..ate mostly right..but gained almost all of it back in just a few months..tired of this yo yo life..my hope for the surgery is to help me not be hungry for a while so I can truly change my own habits..without relying on a drug...

No judgement here, and God knows I am no doctor, but I have sat through a ton of seminars before deciding on this surgery and the doctors are all adamant that a person must have a BMI of 35 to qualify..and with that there must be an accompanying health risk unless your BMI is above 40. Its your body and your money..but it does seem like an unnecessary risk at this point...Just my 2 cents..